Sprocket-wheel.



W. W. WILLSON.

SPROGKET WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED Meza, 1907.

948,385. Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

y/ [Eli llv@ mnusw, s. Gamm co.. Puowumosmvums, WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. WILLSON, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SPROCKET-WHEEL.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM YV. IVILLSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inASprocketiVheels, of which the following is 4a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to power transmission apparatus in which a wirerope or cable is employed as the endless traveling member; and itconsists of improvements in -the wheels with which the cable engages.

The advantages incident to the use of cables, in lieu for instance ofcliains, have long been recognized, but they are subject to thisdisadvantage, that the length of the cable is subject to considerablevariation,

owing to the stretching thereof under the conditions of severe and longcontinued use, as well as to expansion and contraction under thevariations of temperature. Such changes of course affect the pitch ofthe cable and unless the pitch of the wheel with which the cable engagesbe varied, the cable and wheel do not work well together.

The object of my invention is to produce a wheel for use in powertransmission systems by having adjustable rim sections with which thecable is adapted to engage, as is illustrated in the drawings and will'be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l is a side elevation of a wheel embodying' my invention. Fig. 2is an elevation of part of a wheel on which the rim section has been setout. Fig.V 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is aplan view of the part of the wheel that constitutes the seat for theYadjustable cableengaging section. Fig. 5 is an elevation of part of thewheel containing an embodiment of my invention differing in details ofconstruction from the forms shown inthe views already described. Fig. 6'is an elevation of the part of the wheel represented in Fig. 5, thecable-engaging section being set out. Fig. 7 is a sectional view takenon the line 7--7 of Fig. 6. Fig. S is a view of the yielding sprockettooth, detached.

In the drawings, A represents a cable, B the contact members or blocksapplied thereto, said cable being adapted to carry fiights or otherconveying attachments.

The wheel with which the cable engages Specification of-Letters Patent.

Application filed April 26, 1907.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

serial No. 370,394.

comprises essentially a central or body portion D and a series ofseparable and adjustable segments E secured thereto, the latter beingseparated from each other by gaps and being the parts of the wheel withwhich t-he cable directly engages. The body portion of the wheelcomprises a hub b, radiating arms or spokes b', and a rim or peripheralportion b2. The latter is formed into a number of broad bearing surfaceslconstituting seats upon which rest, and to which are secured, theseparable segments E. Each of these segments is provided with a seriesof staggered teeth d, between which is a groove d in which rests thecable. The segments E and the gaps f separat-ing them are comparativelylong, as is customary in wheels of this character, and the contactblocks occupy the gaps as the cable passes around the wheel. It isevident that if the cable stretches the distance between adjacent blocksis increased, and it is therefore necessary, if the cable is to properlycooperate with the wheel, that the pitch of the latter shall beincreased proportionately to the stretching of the cable.

The bearing surfaces upon which the segments E rest are preferablydisposed in planes coinciding with chords of a circle struck from thecenter of the wheel. Each bearing is preferably formed of two relativelybroad surfaces at g, g, separated by a depression or cavity g. The wallsg of the cavity are plain and parallel with each other so as toconstitute guides for giving proper position to the segment when seatedupon the rim of the wheel and for directing its radial movements when itis adj usted. Each of the bearings gis expanded laterally beyond theedges of the rim portion b2 of the wheel, as indicated in Figs. 3 and4f, and is perforated as indicated at g3.

Each segment E consists essentially of a curved -rim portion e carryingthe teeth cl, a chord-like base e, and web-like parts e2 uniting attheir ends the parts e, e. The base e of the segment. is shaped to fitthe bearings g, g, on the wheel rim, that is to say ithas laterallyexpanded perforated portions or lugs es. Bolts z' and nuts 2 areemployed to unite the segments to the wheel body. A projection, in theform of a block e", iitting-the recess g', extends from the lower faceof the base of the segment and operates to assist in holding the segmentin place and directing its movements when it is adjusted.

j, j, represent shims or liners adapted to be interposed between thebearing surfaces g and the opposing bearing surfaces of t-he base c ofthe cable-engaging segment, as indicated in Fig. 2. By employing linersof proper thickness the segments can be properly set out to increase thepitch ot' the wheel, as may be required by the stretching of the cable.The wheel thus far described is very simple in construction and easy ofinanufacture, and the segments may be easily and quickly adjusted to anydesired extent by the very simple expedient of employing shim plates orliners, which can be found in all establishments, or may be made out ofmetal at hand wherever machinery is being used.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have represented a form of my invention differingsomewhat from that just described, principally in that the recess orcavity g in the wheel rim, and the projection that tits such recess arenot present. The rim F/ of Figs. 5, 6 and 'T is likewise of somewhatdiiierent construction from that shown in the other views, but thesedifferences are not important and need not be further referred to.

Referring again to the construction shown in Fig. 1, H indicates ayielding sprocket tooth arranged to engage directly with the bearingblocks B on the cable. This yielding tooth is similar in constructionand op` eration to the yielding sprocket described, shown and claimed inPatent 649,563 to W. TV. lVilson, dated Hay 15, 1900, and hence need notbe herein described, nor need its advantages be pointed out. The curvedshank or stem ZL or' the yielding sprocket is adapted to enter a chamber7c formed in the web portion e2 of the adjustable segment E. Thissegment is perforated atI Z, Z, and the pivot pin or bolt m that unitesthe sprocket tooth with the segment E passes through one or the other ofthe sets of perforations, accordingly as the tooth is used upon adriving or a driven wheel. lt is well understood that a tooth of thischaracter is arranged at. the forward edge of the cable-engaging segmentwhen applied to a driving wheel and to the rear end of the segment whenupon a driven wheel; and also that the spring fn. that operates upon thetooth is so located as normally to retract or hold inward the tooth whenit operates as a drivel', but to extend or force it outward when it ison a driven wheel. ln order that the segment may be used either upon adriving or a driven wheel, as may be desired, the web portion e2 at eachend of the segment is chambered and adapted to receive a yieldingsprocket tooth. And the walls of both these sockets are formed with twosets of perforations Z, Z, the inner set Z receiving the pivot pin mwhen the sprocket is applied for driving purposes, and the outer set Zbeing' used when the sprocket is applied to a driven wheel.

The web portions c2 of the segmental rim sections E extend outward ateither end beyond the base c in order to constitute a bearing 0 for theyielding sprocket tooth.

lVhat l claim is:

1. A sprocket wheel for use with a power transmission cable, comprisinga body portion formed with a series of regularly arranged bearingsurfaces extending late ally outward beyond the rim of the body portionof the wheel, a series of separable sections with which t-he cabledirectly engages arranged to' restupon and be secured to the saidbearing surfaces of the wheel, the said sections being separated fromeach other by gaps, nuts and bolts for uniting the sepa rable sectionsto the wheel body, passing through the said laterally extending bearingsand through the parts of the sections resting directly thereon, and ayielding sprocket tooth carried by each of the said separable sections,substantially as setl forth.

2. A sprocket wheel for use with a power transmission cable, comprisingin combination a body port-ion formed with a series of laterallyextending ilanges to form a corresponding series of bearing faces, eachof said bearing faces having a straight-sided recess, a series ofseparable toothed sections with which the cable directly engagesarranged upon the said bearing faces, each section having a tongue toengage the groove of the bearing face and being separated from theadjacent sections by gaps, and means for securing the separable sectionsto the wheel body comprising bolts passing through the said laterallyextending Hanges and the parts of the sections resting directly thereon,substantially as set forth.

3. A sprocket wheel for use with a power transmission cable, comprisingin combination a central body portion having a series of pairs oflaterally extending iianges forming a corresponding series of bearingfaces, the flanges of each pair being separated by a groove g, a seriesof separable toothed sections with which the cable directly en gages,having ianged base portions shaped to lit the flanges of the said bodyport-ion and each formed with a tongue e4 adapted to iit a groove g, andmeans for securing the sect-.ions to the wheel body comprising boltsextending through the laterally extending flanges-of the body and theflanged base portions of the sections, substantially as set forth.

4.-. A sprocket wheel for use with a power transmission rope or strandcable, comprising a central body portion and a series of separablesections with which the cable directly engages, each section beingconstructed to receive at each end a yielding sprocket tooth, means foruniting the sections to the wheel body, and a yielding toot-h Secured toeach Section, Substantially as Set forth.

5. A sprocket Wheel for use With a power transmission rope or strandcable, comprising a central body portion, a series of separable SectionsWith Which the Cable directly engages, each Section consisting of aCurved rim portion carrying teeth, L base and connecting web parts e2,the latter being re- 10 cessed or ehambered to receive the yieldinzg`sprocket tooth, substantially as Set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM IV. IVILLSON. IVitnesses:

FRANK T. TALBOT, I-I. B. ALEXANDER.

